Cattle Market Pulse

Stockmen's Livestock Exchange Market Report

Dickinson, North Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, May 5, 2022

1,500 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Stockmen's Livestock Exchange report →

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $178.97/cwt +13.89 vs last sale · ≈ $1,032/hd at 576 lb · 244 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $212.38/cwt +14.56 vs last sale · ≈ $1,224/hd at 576 lb · 179 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $169.26/cwt +16.40 vs last sale · ≈ $1,130/hd at 668 lb · 170 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,500 3,066 0
Feeder cattle 1,500 3,066 0

First reported sale in a month, recent price comparison not available, much higher undertones evident. This week's offering of light fleshed steers and heifers, suitable for grazing, was met with very good demand as the recent moisture has greatly improved the outlook for a full grazing season. Whether it was for steers and heifers to run on grass and sell in the fall, or for replacement quality heifers, the market was very active. Several long strings offered in full loads, along with numerous smaller consignments, regardless of the size of the consignment cattle were very easy to sell this week. Feeder cattle producers are very optimistic for the coming fall months in the feeder market and willing to chase the market to secure their yearling cattle needs. Next week, May 12th expecting 1,500 feeder cattle.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
408 408 5 217.00 $217.00 $885
458–494 478 22 209.50–216.50 $213.86 $1,022 -2.14
500–543 505 26 206.00–210.50 $208.97 $1,055 +4.67
565–584 575 167 204.00–217.00 $213.49 $1,228 +30.49
593 593 12 197.00 $197.00 $1,168 +14.00
624 624 14 185.00 $185.00 $1,154 -4.56
678 678 140 185.00 $185.00 $1,254 +6.57
741 741 9 164.50 $164.50 $1,219 -9.80
750–799 784 35 150.00–159.00 $154.12 $1,208 -6.44
908 908 17 144.00 $144.00 $1,308 +0.25
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
426 426 7 203.00 $203.00 $865 -1.00
476 476 16 206.00 $206.00 $981 +12.21
535 535 5 190.00 $190.00 $1,016 -2.68
608 608 8 172.00 $172.00 $1,046 -13.00
898 898 5 138.50 $138.50 $1,244
920 920 9 140.00 $140.00 $1,288

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
501–549 511 97 172.50–179.00 $174.07 $889 +4.73
568 568 107 184.50 $184.50 $1,048 +19.42
553–594 583 137 173.00–182.50 $174.65 $1,018 +9.57
615 615 5 156.00 $156.00 $959 -1.12
666 666 98 174.00 $174.00 $1,159 +30.52
659–677 670 72 155.50–164.00 $162.81 $1,091 +19.33
707–745 738 71 156.00–164.00 $162.60 $1,200 +9.09
752–762 759 41 140.50–148.50 $144.25 $1,095 +1.94
791 791 23 159.00 $159.00 $1,258 +25.00
813–846 823 122 149.50–159.00 $155.28 $1,278 +17.59
836 836 5 134.50 $134.50 $1,124 -3.19
947 947 8 132.00 $132.00 $1,250 +7.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
391 391 11 161.00 $161.00 $630 -10.00
414–446 430 18 171.00 $171.00 $735 -1.00
476 476 15 147.50 $147.50 $702 -13.50
572 572 21 150.50 $150.50 $861 -6.24

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What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

USDA feeder grades describe frame size and muscle thickness, not quality of the individual animal. "Medium and Large" is the frame score; the number is muscle (1 = heaviest muscled). "Medium and Large 1–2" pens mix both muscle scores — common across the Southeast.

What is $/cwt?

Dollars per hundredweight — per 100 lb of animal. A 500-lb calf at $450/cwt brings 5 × $450 = $2,250. Lighter cattle usually bring more per cwt but less per head.

Why are some prices per head?

Bred cows, cow-calf pairs, and some replacement classes sell by the head, not by weight. We show those exactly as USDA reports them — a $/head figure is never converted into $/cwt on this site.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Livestock Market News — federal reporters at the sale. We publish each report in full and link the official USDA document at the top of the page.